Nats plan to use Adams in left field at times this season

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If there's one position at which the Nationals can boast significant depth, it's in the outfield. Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor and Bryce Harper are all locked into starting positions. Brian Goodwin is a versatile fourth outfielder. Howie Kendrick can play either corner position. Victor Robles is waiting in the wings at Triple-A in case one of the starters goes down. Andrew Stevenson and Rafael Bautista gained big league experience last season.

So why did the Nationals want to give Matt Adams a start in left field Friday night? Because they think they'll be using him out there from time to time this year.

"I think he has an opportunity to help us play left field, especially if we have to give days off to Adam and Michael Taylor," manager Davey Martinez said. "Goodie playing center and Matt Adams playing left field, I'm OK with that. I really am. I've watched him. Thus far he's been working diligently out in the outfield, and he looks pretty good. I'd like to see him out there. It gives him more plate appearances, more at-bats. We'll play around with it, but I think he can help us out there."

The lumbering Adams is a first baseman by trade and will get most of his at-bats as Ryan Zimmerman's left-handed backup. But he played 19 games in left field last season for the Cardinals and Braves, the first time he had been placed in the outfield in his professional career.

And just as they did last season with Adam Lind, the Nationals may need to find a way to get Adams' bat into the lineup, even if Zimmerman is starting at first base. So they had Adams spend several days working out in left field here late in camp, and Friday tried him out in their game against the Astros.

Adams wound up getting tested twice on less-than-routine plays. The first, a blooper down the left field line, was out of his reach (in part because he was shaded well toward center field with a left-handed batter up). The second, a slicing liner to his right, wound up in his glove after a nice effort.

"I told him the one ball that dropped in, not his fault," Martinez said. "We were playing him to pull. And the other ball, he ran down. I was more impressed with how we've worked so much on his first step. And he had great jumps. So I was really pleased."